Fire-escape.



No. 876,893. PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

R. ARNOLD.

FIRE ESCAPE.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, 1907.

UNITE STATES T UFICEQ WILLIAM R. ARNOLD, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS.

FIRE-ESCAPE Application filed June 10 To cu, whom it may concern:

safe and rapid exit from the burning structure without exposure to flames or heat.

Another Ob ect resides in the provision of an external passage way having communica- .tion with different floors of a dwelling or other structure for the safe passage of personsleaving building at the time of a fire.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion, size and minor details a hout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a building illustrating my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a portion of the main tube and one of its branches. Fig. 4 is a view illustrating the interior of the main section of the tubular passage way.

Referring now more particular to the accompanying drawings, the reference character 1, indicates a dwelling, building; or other structure provided with windows 2 and with openings 3 beneath certain of the windows. These openings 3 may be quickly located in the event of a fire by reason of their particular disposition beneath windows, and in the event of a fire in the structure, a person may readily pass through the same into the fixed section 4 of the tubular passage way or chute supported along the outside of the dwelling by means of suitable brackets 5 secured to the building in any suitable manner, the fixed section 4 being secured to the brackets by rivets 6 or in any suitable manner. The upper end of the fixed section 4 is curved inwardly, as at 7 for communication with the uppermost opening 3 of the structure, whilev the remaining openings 3 of the structure have communication with the fixed section Specification of Letters Patent.

1907. SerialNo. 378.212. I

Patented Jan. 14,1 908.

I 4 throughthe branch conductor tubes 8, as

clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The lower end 9 of the fixed section 4 of the chute is preferably arranged substanedly connected to its free end the pivoted chute section 10 whose lower end opens T his pivoted or hinged section 10 is held nor- 'mally in a substantially horizontal plane by 7 means of the weighted cable 13 assed over the pulley 14, as shown in dotted ines in Fig. 1.

vwa'rdly toward the ground and held in the inclined position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 in any suitable manner, and if it is not held in inclination by reason of the weight of the person sliding down the chute from the dwelling. It will be seen that the cable 13 is connected with an eye of a band 15 embracing the outer end of the pivoted section 10.

chute are preferably of such diameter that a person may pass through the same in a sitting position, and as the sections, which are preferably composed of metal, may be subject to intense heat incident to fire, I prei a wooden false bottom 16 which would remain cool for a long time even it the tubular sections should become exceedingly hot. As a matter of fact the descent of the person in the chute would be so rapid that the exposure to heat, it any, would be but an inlimit the speed of his descent by gripping the handle rails 17 disposed upon each side of the chute, which guide rails are ole arly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 1 i

From the foregoing it will be understood that in the event of a fire persons within the dwelling may readily enter the chute and in a sitting position slide down the same upon the slide or false bottom 16, and whether the safety- Y The lower end 9 of the fixed section 4 of the chute is preferably arranged substantially upon a horizontal plane, so as to retard the before reaching the ground and prevent a too violent impact therewith. Children and in descent bygripping the hand rails could thus tiallyupon a horizontal plane and has hiugth ough its top" and sides as indicated at 11.

This pivoted section may be thrown down.

said inclined position it would assume such The fixed and pivoted sections of the erably arrange in the bottom of the sections,

stant, although if desired, the person may speed of a person sliding down the tube just.

pivoted section'lO of the chute be at an in-- chne or horlzontal plane, reach the ground in I valids unable to control the speed of their be placed in the tube and the speed of their descent would be retardedin the manner I aforesaid.

" ings of the. building or other. structure, a bet n a g d What is claimed is t?- 1. In a fire escape; the combination with a building or other structure providedwith openings, of a tubular chute having its upper end directed into communication with the uppermost opening and provided interme (hate its ends with fixed branch passageways for communication with the remaining opentom arranged within the chute, rail arranged within the chute, I

2. In a fire escape, the combination with a building or. other structure provided with openings, ofa tubular chute having its upperend directed into communication with the uppermost openingxand provided 1nterme-' d1ateits ends with ed branch passage ways for communication with the remaining onen,

ings of the building or other structure; the

lower end of the chute being directed out of.

' the plane of the remaining portion thereof,

. a member hingediy connected to the chute and forming an extension thereof, a false bottom arranged Within the chute and its ex tension, and a guide rail arranged Within the .chute and-its extenslon.

Y 3. In a fire'escape, the combination with a building .or other structure provided with [of the chute being "sage ways, and

eraeee openings, of a chute haringits-upper end directed into commun cation with the upper most openings and provided-intermediate its 3 ends with fixed branch passageways i5fcomremaining openings of.

muni'eation with the the building or othe structure, thelower end directed out of the plane of the. remaining portions; thereof, a member hingedly. connected to' the chute and forming an extension thereof, a false bottom arranged within the chute and its extension,

false bottoms arrangedin the branch pas a guiderail arranged the chute, the extension of the chute-and the branch passageways. 2

L'Anre' escape comprising a chute'havin out jof alinement with it s'body por- I connected tofthe latteryanda false bottom and a/guide rail disposed in said extension." Ill testimony whereof l have signed my in the presence-ofname' to this specification two subscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses':

-' Gnonen OLTSCH,

G.. M. COLE.

WILLIAM R. ARNOLD, 

